WORLD BRIEFING | PACIFIC; Australia: Ex-Premier to Challenge His Successor in a Vote on Monday

By MATT SIEGEL

Published: February 24, 2012

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced on Friday that he would challenge his successor, Julia Gillard, for leadership of their Labor Party and the country in a ballot set for Monday morning. Mr. Rudd, who was replaced as prime minister by Ms. Gillard in a 2010 party coup, told reporters in Brisbane that he was ''sick and tired'' of being blamed for failures of her unpopular government and that Ms. Gillard could not defeat the opposition in elections next year.